Counterbalanced door check



Aug. 30, 1955 R. H. WISE COUNTERBALANCEID DOOR CHECK Filed June 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l RALPH H. W/SE INVENTOR.

BYZK W.

QQJKM ATTORNEYS 0, 1955 R. H. WISE 2,716,256

COUNTERBALANCED DOOR CHECK Filed June 16, 1951 2 sheets-shed 2 /4 4/ /7 1752 //74A/, l8. 1 7/ 2/ L1)T:'

RAL PH H. W/SE ET INVENTOR. BY Z Jaw.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent COUNTERBALANCED DOOR CHECK Ralph H. Wise, Wayne, Mich assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 16, 1951, Serial No. 231,936

1 Claim. (Cl. 1686) This invention relates generally to door checking and holding devices for motor vehicle doors and has par ticular reference to a door check of the counterbalancing type.

An object of this invention is to provide a door checking and holding device particularly adapted for relatively heavy motor vehicle doors of the type mounted upon an inclined hinge axis and consequently requiring considerable counterbalancing to facilitate the opening of the door. The construction comprises a pair of interconnected toggle links, one connected to the door and the other connected to the door supporting structure, with the pivotal connection between the two toggle links being acted upon by a strong spring force in such manner as to partially or completely counterbalance the tendency of the door to swing to a closed position. It is an object of the invention to provide such a construction enabling the initial opening of the door to be effected automatically when the door latch is released and to counterbalance the door during the intermediate portion of its opening movement to enable it to be easily controlled, together with means positively but releasably holding the door in its fully open position. It is a further object to provide such a construction which is compact and capable of being arranged in a relatively narrow door and is of sturdy construction yet economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a motor vehicle incorporating the door check of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the door check shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 showing the door check in plan View.

Figure 4 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 3 but with the door check housing omitted to show the toggle linkage.

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the door check and the door in fully open position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 showing the spring clips holding the door check mechanism in the fully open position.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the door check of the present invention is shown in connection with the rear access door of a parcel delivery type of motor vehicle. Such doors are relatively large and heavy, and since they are usually pivoted about a hinge axis inclined from the vertical they are extremely heavy and diflicult to open and to maintain in open position. The door check shown herein is particularly designed for such a door although it may of course be used in connection with other type vehicle doors as Well.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 11 indicates the rear body panel of a parcel delivery truck, the reference character 12 the rear door therefor, 13 the hinges pivotally connecting the door 12 to the body, and 14 the door checking and holding mechanism.

The rear body panel 11 is formed with an inwardly extending flange 16 defining the door opening and provided with an enlarged aperture 17 therethrough. A bracket 18 extends through the aperture 17 and is formed with flanges 19 suitably secured to the flange 16 of the body panel by means of fastening elements 21.

The bracket 18 extends through an opening 22 provided in the jamb face 23 of the door 12. Pivotally connected to the end of the bracket 18 is a toggle link 26. The toggle link 26 is formed of two separate stampings spaced from each other adjacent their outer ends but bent into juxtaposition at their inner ends to be received between the two side flanges of the bracket 18 for pivotal connection thereto by means of a pivot pin 27. A second onepiece toggle link 28 is provided, one end thereof being received between the two side flanges of the toggle link 26 and pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 29. Also pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin 29 is a clevis 31.

The opposite end of the toggle link 28 is received between the side flanges of the door check housing 32 and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 33. The housing 32 is formed of a pair of side flanges 34 and 36 each having an end flange 37 secured to the jamb face 23 of the door by means of fastening elements 38. The housingextends between the inner and outer panels 41 and 42 of the door 12. The opposite ends of the side flanges 34 and 36 of the door check housing are provided with vertically extending flanges 44 secured to the inner door panel 41 by means of fastening elements 46. The extreme ends of the flanges 34 and 36 of the door check housing 32 are secured to the side flanges of a U-shaped reinforcing end member 47, preferably by welding.

As best seen in Figure 7, the side flanges 34 and 36 of the housing 32 are depressed at 48 and 49 respectively and are secured together by a shouldered stud 51. The depressed portion enables the heads of the shoulder stud 51 to be beneath the adjacent surfaces of the housing flanges to enable the assembly to be inserted through the opening provided in the jamb face 23 of the door. The shouldered stud 51 maintains the flanges of the housing properly spaced and supported. A U-shaped metal clip 52 embraces the opposite sides of the flanges 34 and 36 of the door check housing 32, being welded thereto, and prevents the flanges from being spread apart during the operation of the door check mechanism.

As best seen in Figure 3, the side flanges 34 and 36 of the door check housing 32 are further depressed adjacent the pivotal connection 33 of the toggle link 28 to the housing to provide lateral support for th link.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that the clevis 31 is provided with a threaded opening 53 for receiving the threaded end of the door check rod 54. The opposite end of the rod extends through an opening formed in the U-shaped end reinforcing member 47 and terminates in a threaded portion receiving a rubber bumper 57, a metal back-up washer 58 and a nut 59 which may be adjusted along the rod to vary the position of the rubber bumper. In the opening movement of the door the rubber bumper 57 is arranged to engage the U-shaped end member 47 of the housing to form a stop and limit further opening movement of the door.

A cup-shaped retainer 61 is mounted upon the door also varies.

check rod 54 and held against the adjacent end of the clevis 31 by means of a pairof coil springs extending between the retainer and the U-shaped end member 47 of the housing. Inner and outer springs 62 and 63 are provided to furnish the necessary spring action to properly counterbalance the heavy door.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the door check mechanism in the closed position of the door. It will be noted that the inner and outer springs 62 and 63 are compressed and that the toggle formed of the toggle links 26 and 28 is in a closed position. Upon unlatching the door, the coil springs apply a relatively large force through the reminer 61 and the clevis 31 to the pivot pin 29 interconnecting the toggle links 26 and 28. This force tends to open the toggle and consequently automatically opens the door. As the door opens the toggle links move from the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 to the position shown in Figure and it will be apparent that the direction of application of the spring force as applied through the clevis 31 to the pivot pin 29 connecting the toggle links The arrangement is such that the door is automatically moved by the mechanism through the initial portion of its opening range and then is substantially counterbalanced during the intermediate portion of its range so as to facilitate its control by the operator and make opening or closing movement of the door during this range relatively efiortless.

Means are provided for holding the door in the fully open position shown in Figure 5. Secured to each flange 34 and 36 of the door check housing 32 by means of rivets 71 is a primary spring clip 72 and a secondary spring clip 73, Figure 6. The inner ends of the primary clips 72 are bent in arcuate fashion and extend through openings 74 formed in the housing side flanges (Figure 3) into the path of the cup-shaped retainer 61 held against the end of clevis 31 by the coil springs 62 and 63. The inner ends of the secondary spring clips 73 likewise project into the openings 74 in the housing side flanges, being generally V-shaped and spaced from the arcuate end portions of the primary clips 72. The arrangement is such that when the .door 12 is moved to its fully open position the retainer 61 engages the arcuateend portions of the primary clips 72 which snap over the retainer to hold the door open. The secondary clips 73 serve as back-up clips, being engageable by the end portions of the primary clips during spreading movement of the latter by the retainer 61. The engagement of the retainer 61 by the spring clips is best shown in Figure 6, and it will be apparent that the door is thus held in its fully open position. It can be readily released by pressure against the door to force the retainer 61 past the spring clips.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

In a motor vehicle body having a door and a body member having a door opening therein, a bracket secured to the body member adjacent the door opening and extending into said door through an opening in the latter, an elongated generally horizontal supporting bracket mounted within said door, a toggle link pivotally connected to the bracket carried by the body member, a second toggle link pivotally connected to the supporting bracket carried by the door, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said two toggle links together, a generally horizontal arm pivotally connected to said pivotal means, a member on said supporting bracket having an opening through which said arm extends, a cup-shaped retaining member carried by said arm and retaining means carried by said supporting bracket for cooperation with said cup-shaped retaining member, said retaining means comprising a plurality of spring fingers arranged in pairs with each pair of spring fingers comprising a primary spring finger secured to the supporting bracket and having a bent end portion projecting into the path of the cup-shaped retaining member and a secondary spring finger also secured to said supporting bracket and having a yieldable bent end portion in alignment with the bent end portion of said primary spring finger but spaced therefrom to back up the latter and increase the resistance of the latter to movement by said cup-shaped retaining member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,627,329 Hill May 3, 1927 2,219,822 Schonitzer Oct. 29, 1940 2,219,824 Schonitzer Oct. 29, 1940 2,244,182 Allen June 3, 1941 2,484,674 Berry et a1. Oct. 11, 1949 2,544,500 Jacobi Mar. 6, 1951 2,584,375 Widmer et a1. Feb. 5, 1952 

